Toy submarine



Aug- 20, 1940 J. o. THORSHEIM 2,212,280

TOY SUBMRINE Filed March 18, 1940 Joseph O. Thor-shem Patented Aug. Z0,1940 UNITE sm'res TENT GFFECE Z0 Claims.

My invention relates to toy submarines and has for an object to providea toy submarine which will simulate in action an actual submarine.

An object of the invention resides in providing a toy submarine capableof submerging and automatically rising to the surface of the water aftera predetermined interval.

vA further object ofv the invention resides in providing a toy submarinewhich will repeatedly submerge and rise to the surface.

Another object of the invention resides in providing va toy submarinewhich will submerge and after a predetermined lapse of time will travelahead in the water and rise therein.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the submarinewith a hull having a support for a cake of soluble material, said cakebeing adapted to cause the submarine to submerge and upon solution inthe Water causing the submarine to rise to the surface.

A feature of the invention resides in forming in the bottom of thesubmarine a cavity in which the cake of soluble material is disposed.

A still further object of the invention resides inconstructing thesubmarine so that the water circulates freely about the cake wherebyrapid solution of the same may be effected.

An object of the invention resides in providing a cage within saidcavity having perforate walls and forming a passageway through whichwater may circulate, said cake being disposed Within said cage.

An object of the invention resides in constructing the cake of layers ofdifferent materials or of differently treated materials so thatsuccessive portions of the same are dissolved changing the buoyancy ofthe cake so as to procure alternate submerging and rising of thesubmarine.

A still further object of the invention resides in untilizing apropeller for propelling the submarine and in employing in conjunctionwith the propeller a device for controlling movement thereof, saiddevice being actuated upon solution of the cake.

A feature of the invention resides in employing a `propeller shaft foroperating the propeller and in attaching to the propeller shaft an armadapted to en-gage the cake and restrain rotation of the shaft.

A feature of the invention resides in using the propeller shaft and armfor maintaining the cake Within the cavity in the hull.

Another object of the invention resides in venting the cavity in thehull, whereby water will readily enter said cavity.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination andarrangement oi parts and in the details of construction hereinafterillustrated and/or described.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a toy submarine illustrating anembodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the. cake partly dissolved.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4' showing the cake still furtherdissolved.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the cage used for supporting the cakewithin the cavity in the hull of the submarine.

My invention comprises a hull designated by the reference numeral I0,which may be constructed of wood or other buoyant material or which maybe constructed of metal and provided with sufficient air spaces toprocure buoyancy of the same. The hull I0 is generally in the form of asubmarine having sides II and I2 and a bottom I3. The hull Ill may beconstructed, as indicated at I6, to simulate the super-structure of asubmarine with a periscope I1 and a conningtower I8.

0 The submarine is provided with a rudder I9.

Ahead of the rudder and attached to the bottom I3 of the hull Illl is abracket 2| which forms a bearing for a propeller shaft 22. This shaft272 follows along the underside of the bottom I3 and is positioned inclose proximity thereto. The rearward end of the shaft 22 has attachedtoit a propeller23 which has a hub 24 bearing against the bracket 2l.The other end 29 of the shaft 22 is constructed with a hook 25 overwhich one end of a rubber band 26 is hooked. The other end of the saidband is hooked on a fixed hook 2'! which is screwed into the bottom I3of the hull Ill. It will readily be comprehended that, when thepropeller shaft V22 is rotated the band 26 is twisted and energy storedup in the same, which, when the shaft 22 is released causes thepropeller 23 to rotate and drive the submarine` forward in the Water.

In the bottom I3 of the hull, intermediate the ends thereof and midwaybetween its sides I I and I2, is formed a rectangular cavity 28. Thiscavity has side walls 3| and 32 and a top 33, said cavity being open atthe bottom so that water may readily enter the same. A vent 36 for thecavity 28 is provided in the hull |9 to prevent the trapping of air insaid cavity and thus permit water readily to enter the cavity for apurpose presently to be described.

Within the cavity 28 is disposed a cage 31 `formed with -a top 38`andside and end walls 39 and 4|, the bottom of said cage being open. Thiscage is constructed of suitable sheet material and the various wallsthereof are perforate, being formed with numerous large openings 42therein through which water may readily enter the cage from the top,sides and ends thereof, as well as from the bottom. The walls 39 haveears 43 projecting outwardly therefrom. The dimensions of the cage 31are somewhat less than those of the cavity 28 so that the walls 39 and4| become spaced from the walls 3| and 32 of the cavity 28 and so thatthe top 38 of the cage becomes spaced from the top 33 of cavity 28. Inthis manner a passageway 44 is formed between the walls of the cage 31and the walls of the cavity 28, whereby water may enter'the cavity andcirculate 'freely about and through the ca-ge 31. Said cage 31 issupported through the two ears 43 which are attached to the bottom |3 ofthe hull I6 by means of nails or screws 45, best shown in Fig. 2.

Within the interior of the cage 31 is disposed a cake 46 which isconstructed of materials readily solublein water. This cake consists ofa core 49, an intermediate portion 48 enrobing the core, and a jacket 41.enrobing said intermediate portion 48. Each of these various portionsconsists f water-soluble material. The core 49 and jack et 41 may be ofthe same material and will have a specific gravity, greater than that ofwater, while the material from which the intermediate portion 48 isformed will have a specic gravity less than that of water. The thicknessof the various portions of the cake 46 and the relative weights thereofare so proportioned that the' ratio of the weight of the entire cake toits volume is greater than that of water. Also the weight of the entirecake is suicient so that the cake, when inserted into the cage 31, andthe submarine placed in the water, overbalances the buoyancy of thesubmarine and causes the same to submerge. The ratio of the weight ofthe intermediate portion 48 and its enrobed core 49 to the volume of theformer is preferably less than that of water so that, after the jacket41 has been dissolved, the cake becomes buoyant and causes the submarineto rise. It can readily be comprehended that the ratio of the weight tovolume of the intermediate portion 48 and its enrobed core 49 can bemade equal to that of water or even slightly greater than water if thecombined weight of both portions 48 and 49 be kept below the buoyancy ofthe hull. However, best results are produced when the ratio is less thanthat vof water so that the buoyancy of the cake, devoid of the jacket41, tends to cause the submarine to rise. The ratio of the weight of thecore 49 to its volume is greater than that of water and said core is ofsuch weight that, when denuded of the intermediate portion 48, it willcause the submarine to submerge.

In forming the cakes 46, various chemicals and materials which aresoluble in water may be used. Ordinary table salt or sugar may beutilized. Buoyancy of the cake may be procured by trap- Dlrlg air withthe particles of soluble substance, such air being released as thesubstance dissolves. Or 1f desired, `substances or maieials of lowspecic gravity may be used to provide buoyancy in the cake.

As will be noted in Figs. 1 and 2, the forward portion 29 of shaft 22extends across the open underside of the cavity 28. At this locality across arm is provided which is welded or otherwise secured to the saidshaft. This cross arm engages the cake 46 and prevents rotation of theshaft 22. When the jacket 41 and intermediate portion 48 and asubstantial portion of the core 49 of said cake are dissolved, arm 5| isreleased and the propeller shaft 22 permitted to rotate. This shaft 22is loosely journaled in the bearing formed in bracket 2| so that theportion 29 of said shaft may be swung clear of the bottom I3 of the hullin proximity to the cavity 28. This permits the insertion of the cake 46into the cage 31. When the shaft 22 is released, the elastic band 26returns said shaft to its normal position, bringing the cross arm 5|into engagement with the underside of the cake 46 and thus holding saidcake in position within the cage 31.

The operation of the .illustrated embodiment of my invention is asfollows: The shaft 22 is first turned by hand in a -direction oppositeto that through which the propeller 23 turns in propelling the boat.This twists the elastic band 26, storing up energy in the same. Afterthe said band has been sufficiently twisted, the shaft 22 is swung clearof the cavity 28 in the hull I6. The cake 46 is then inserted into thecage 31 and the cross arm 5| brought flatly into engagement with theunderside of the cake, as shown in Fig. 3. The tension on the band 26holds lthe structure, as shown in Fig. 1', with the cake 46 retained inposition through the cross arm 5|. When the submarine is placed in thewater, it is caused by the weight of the cake 46 to sink and becomecompletely submerged. Water, of course, enters the cavity 28 and the airwithin said cavity escapes through the vent 36. It will readily becomprehended that the water may circulate through the space 32 in thecavity 28 and freely enter the cage 31 through the openings 42 in thevarious walls thereof. cage through said openings and through the openbottom thereof rst dissolves the jacket 41 of the cake 46. This reducesthe weight of the said cake and upon substantially complete solution ofsaid jacket the submarine rises to the surface of the water. As thejacket 41 is dissolved, the cross arm 5| follows the gradually changingsurface of the cake. When the jacket has been completely dissolved theposition of the cross arm, with reference to the cake, is as shown inFig. 4. Upon reaching the surface of the-water, the submarine floats,the remainder of the vcake 46 being still submerged. During flotation ofthe submarine the intermediate portion 48 of the cake commences todissolve and as it dissolves, the ratio of the weight to volume of theremainder of the cake increases until a point is reached at which theratio is greater than that of water. When this ratio becomes suicientlygreat, which is accomplished when substantially all of the intermediateportion 48 has been dissolved, the weight of the core 49 causes thesubmarine again to sub-` merge. The position of the cross arm 5|, withreference to thecore 49, when the intermediate portion 48 and jacket 49of the cake have both been dissolved is shown in Fig. 5. Solution of thecore 49 then progresses until the cross arm 5| is released thereby. Whenthis occurs, the undissolved fragment of said core drops from the cage31, whereupon the'submarine begins to rise The water entering they finalascent.

The layers of the cake need not completely enrobe each other, as shown,but may be simply stratified layers which are successively exposed tothe water to effect the repeated submerging and emerging of the toy.And, too, the cake may have a uniform foundation throughout and bewithout layers of different materials or differently treated material,where it is desired only to provide for a single submersion of the toyfollowed by the emersion thereof.

The device is adapted also to simulate a power driven boat and in suchuse, a delayed action of the propeller may be had, without submersion ofthe toy, by using a water-soluble cake of such material that the ratioof the weight of the cake to its volume, as compared with that of water,is insufcient to overcome the buoyancy of the toy. In such case, the toywill merely float until the cake has become sufficiently disintegratedby solution-to release the cross bar 5I, whereupon the propeller shaftwill be turned by the twisted band 26 and the toy driven forward by thepropeller 23.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. An extremely simpleconstruction is provided. By means of the cakes-used, the device becomesWholly automatic. The cakes can be constructed of various harmlessmaterials treated in different ways. There are very fewyparts to get outof order. The submarine operates in lan extremely interesting andattractive manner simulating the maneuvers of actual submarines. Thecake used with the invention serves a two-fold purpose, rst to cause thesubmarine to submerge. and rise and secondly to control the action ofthe propeller or any other movable part of the submarine. The use of theinvention is extremely simple and a child can easily learn to manipulateand operate the same. The cakes can be constructed at little expense andare easily replaced.

Changes in the specic form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may bemade within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

1. A toy submarine comprising a hull of sufficient buoyancy to float andhaving a cavity therein into which water may enter from the body thereofin which the submarine is disposed, a cake` in said cavity formed of amaterial readily soluble in Water, said material having a specificgravity greater than that of water, and said cake being of sufficientsize to overcome the buoyancy of the hull and cause the submerging ofthe submarine, said cake upon solution becoming dispersed in said bodyof water and rendering the submarine free to rise in the water.

2. A toy submarine comprising a hull of suilicient buoyancy to float, awater-soluble substance adapted to be carried by the submarine andexposed to the water in which it is placed, said substance being ofsuiicient bulk and specific gravity to cause the submarine to submerge,said submarine being adapted to rise in the water upon the solution ofsaid substance therein.

3. A toy submarine comprising a hull of sufficient buoyancy to float, asupport on said hull, a cake soluble in water and carried by saidsupport, the ratio of the weight of said cake to its volume beinggreater than that of water, said cake being K.

of `sufficient weight to cause submersion of the submarine, said supportbeing arranged to expose the cake to the water in which the submarine isplaced to cause the solution of the cake in the water, said submarinebeing adapted to rise to the surface of the water upon solution of thecake therein. f

Ll. A toy submarine comprising a hull of suflicient buoyancy to float, asupport on said hull,

a cake consisting of two portions both soluble in water, the ratio ofthe weight of said cake to the volume thereof being greater than that ofthe water and the weight of said cake being sufcient to cause submergingof the submarine, said cake being carriedon said support and exposed tothe water in which the submarine is placed, one portion of saidcakebeing first exposed and the other portion subsequently exposed afterthe solution of said first portion, the ratio of the weight to thevolume of said second portion being sufficiently near that of water topermit the ascent of the submarine upon solution of said first portion,a movable member carried by the submarine, and

means engaging said cake for controlling move-` men-t of said member,said means becoming actuated upon solution of one of said portions ofsaid cake.

5..A toy submarine comprising a hull, a cake formed with two portionsboth thereof being soluble in water, a support on said hull carryingsaid cake and exposing it to the water in which the submarine is placed,rst exposing one portion and, after it is dissolved, then exposing thesecond portion, the ratio of the weight to volume of the two portionsbeing greater than the ratio of the weight to volume of said secondportion, -said submarine being adapted to sink in the water with bothportions of said cake on said support Vand adapted to rise with only thesecond portion of said cake remaining after `solution of said rstvportion.

6. A toy submarine comprising a hull of sufficient buoyancy to float, acake formed of three portions, all thereof `being soluble in water, asupport on the hull carrying said cake and exposing it to the water inwhich the submarine is placed so that one portion is exposed anddissolved` and then the second and then the third, the ratio of theweight of the entire cake to its volume being greater than that of waterand the weight of said cake being suflicient to cause submerging of thesubmarine, the ratio of the weight of said ,second and third portions ofthe cake to the volume thereof being less than that of water and thevolume thereof being suicient to cause the submarine to rise uponsolution of said rstportion, the ratio of the weight of the thirdportion to the volume thereof being greater than that of water and theweight thereof being suicient to cause the submarine to submerge uponsolution of said second portion of the cake, solution of said thirdportion of said cake freeing the submarine and permitting it to riseagain to the surface of the Water.

7. A toy submarine adapted to submerge and emerge repeatedly, the samecomprising a hull of suicient buoyancy to float in water, a watersolublecake consisting of a core, an intermediate portion enrobing the core,and a jacket enrobing saidV intermediate portion, a support on said hullfor `said cake, said support being arranged to procure contact ofsubstantially the entire surface area of the cake with the water inwhich the submarine is disposed, whereby said jacket, in-

termediate' portion and core'of' said cake are caused to dissolvesuccessively in theWater, said entire cake being of such relative Weightand volume as to cause the submarine to sink, the intermediate portionand core of said cake remaining in the course of its rsolution being ofsuch relative Weight and volume as to cause the submerged submarine torise, the core of said cake remaining in the further course of itssolution being of such relative Weight and volume as.A

to cause the submarine again to sink, the solution of a substantialportion of said core, permitting the submarine again to rise.

8..A toy submarine comprising a hull having sufficient buoyancy to oat,Va receiver on the hull, a Water-soluble cake disposed Within saidreceiver and exposed to the Water .in which the submarine is placed, theratio of the Weight of said cake to the volume thereof being greaterthan that of Water. and the Weight' of said cake being suflicient tocause submerging of the submarine, said cake upon solution becomingdispersed in the Water, thus freeing the submarine and permitting it torise to the surface of the water.

9. A toy submarine comprising a hull having sufficient buoyancy tofloat, a receiver on the hull, a Water-soluble cake disposed Within saidreceiver and exposed to the Water in vvhich` the submarine is placed,the ratio of the Weight of said cake to the volume thereof being greaterthan that of water and the Weight of said cake being sufficient to causethe submarine to submerge, said cake, upon solution, being disintegratedin the water, thus freeing the submarine and permitting it to rise tothe surface, means for propelling the submarine, control means engagingthe cake and thereby rendering the propeller means inoperative, saidco-ntrol means being released from said cake upon its disintegration andserving thereupon to render said propelling means operative, saidcontrol means serving also to retain said cake in said receiver. v

10. A toy submarine comprising a hull having suflicient buoyancy tofloat, a receiver on the hull, a Water-soluble cake disposed Within saidreceiverA and exposed to the Water in which the submarine is placed, theratio of the Weight of said cake tothe volume thereof being greater thanthat of Water andthe Weight of said cake being suflicient to cause thesubmarine to submerge, said cake, upon solution, being disintegrated inthe Water, thus` freeing the submarine and permitting it to rise to thesurface, means for propelling the submarine, control means engaging thecake and thereby rendering the propeller means inoperative, said controlmeans being released from said cake upon its disintegration andservingthereupon to render said propelling means operative.

11. A toy submarine comprising'a hull having sufficient buoyancy tofloat, a. receiver on the hull, a Water-soluble cake disposed Withinsaid receiver and exposed to the Water in which the submarine is placed,the ratio of the Weight of said kcake to the volume thereof beinggreater than that of water and the weight of said cake being suiiicientto cause the submarine to submerge, said cake, upon solution, beingdisinte-` grated in the Water, thus freeing the submarine and permittingit to rise to the surface, and means for propelling the submarine, saidmeans serving also to retain said cake in said receiver.

12. A toy submarine comprising a hull having acavity therein and of.suicient buoyancy to float, the Water in which the submarine isdisthereof being greater than that of Water andv the Weight of said cakebeing sufficient to cause submerging of the submarine, said cake uponvsolution dissolving in the water circulating through said cage andcavity and upon solution causing the submarine to rise to the surface ofthe Water.

13. A toy submarine comprising a hull of su'icient buoyancy to float, asupport on said hull, a Water-soluble cake carried by? said hull andexposed to the Water in which the submarine is placed,'the ratio of theWeight of said cake to the volume thereof being greater than that ofWater and the Weight of said cake being sufcient to cause the submarineto submerge, a movable member carried by the submarine, and means forcontrolling'movement of said member engaging said cake, said meansbecoming actuated upon solution of said cake.

f 14. A boat-like toy comprising a hull, a movable element carriedthereby, means for controlling the movement of said element, saidcontrol means including a Water-soluble cake carried by said hull andexposed to the water in which the toy is placed, also a member engagingsaid cake,'said member becoming free from the cake upon solution of saidcake and rendering said movable element operative, f

15. A toy having means for prop-elling the same, said means including 'amovable element, and means for controlling the movement of said element,said control means including a soluble cake exposed for Contact with asolvent, also a member engaging said cake, said memberl becoming freedfrom said cake upon its solution and rendering said'movable elementoperative.

16. A toy submarine comprising a hull of sufficient buoyancy to float, asupport on said hull, a cake readily soluble in water and carried bysaid support, the ratio of the Weight of said cake to the volume thereofbeing greater than that of Water and the Weight of said cake beingsufcient to cause the submarine to submerge, a propeller for propellingthe submarine, a shaft supporting said propeller, a resilient memberconnected to said shaft and yieldingly applying a rotative forcethereto, and an arm carried by said shaft and adapted to engage saidcake, said cake restraining rotation of' said shaft through engagementwith said arm, said arm being freed upon solution of the cake andrendering said shaft operative to propel the submarine.

17. A toy submarine comprising a hull having a cavity in the bottomthereof exposed from beneath the submarine, said hull being ofsuiiicient buoyancy to float, means at the rearward' portion of thesubmarine forming a bearing, a shaft journaled in said bearing andextending along the bottom of the submarine and at a locality inproximity to said cavity, an arm carried by said shaft and rotatablewith said shaft Within said cavity, a resilient member attached at oneend to said shaft, means securing the other end of the resilient memberto the hull at the forward portion of the submarine, a soluble cakedisposed within said cavity, said arm engaging said cake and restrainingrotation of the shaft thereby, said cake upon being dissolved freeingsaid arm to procure rotation of said shaft and propulsion of thesubmarine.

18. A toy submarine comprising a hull having a cavity in the bottomthereof exposed from beneath the submarine, said hull being ofsufficient buoyancy to iioat, means at the rearward portion of thesubmarine forming a bearing, a shaft journaled in said bearing andextending along the bottom of the submarine and at a locality inproximity to said cavity, an arm carried by said shaft and rotatablewith said shaft within said cavity, a resilientmember attached at oneend to said shaft, means securingthe other end of the resilient memberto the hull at the forward portion of the submarine, said resilientmember yieldingly applying a rotative force to said shaft, a portion ofsaid shaft and said arm overlying the exposed portion of said cavity,said shaft being movable in said bearing and said resilient memberyieldingr to permit of movement of said arm and the overlying portion ofsaid shaft away from said cavity to give access thereto, and a solublecake dispo-sed within said cavity and held in position therein throughsaid arm, said cake restraining rotation of said shaft throughengagement with said arm, said cake upon solution freeing the arm andrendering said shaft operable to propel the submarine.

19. In combination, a normally inoperative movable element, controlmeans for controlling movement thereof, said control means including asoluble cake and a movable member engaging the cake and restrained frommovement thereby, said cake having a portion thereof disposed forcontact with a solvent, said engaging member, upon solution of the cake,becoming freed therefrom. rendering said movable element operative.

20. A toy submarine comprising a hull having a downwardly opening Ventedcavity in the bottom thereof, said hull being of suflicient buoyancy tooat, the water in which the submarine is placed being adapted freely toenter said vented cavity from the underside of the hull, a readilysoluble cake held in said cavity, the ratio of the weight of said caketo the volume thereof being greater than that of water and the weight ofsaid cake being sufficient to cause submerging of the submarine, saidcake upon solution becoming dispersed in the water and freeing thesubmarine of the weight of said cake.

JOSEPH O. THORSHCEIM.

